Thursday, September 13, 2012

Similar to how St. Augustine put it, ‘the world is a book,’ and those
who do not travel read only a page of it. Most people travel not to go
anywhere or learn any thing, but simply for travel’s sake. The great
affair is to move.The tropical climate of Rwanda is praised for
its medicinal benefits in relieving stress, which draws foreigners
searching for the dry, warm weather.The magnificent attractions
in the country have contributed to the increasing number of tourists
that are enchanted by this undiscovered paradise; the same tourists
return year after year together with other friends who have heard of the
country’s history. Today, Rwanda has a fabulous fusion of
French and English culture, customs and cooking. The languages that are
spoken almost exclusively by the local population include French,
English and Kinyarwanda, which are three official languages in Rwanda.Most
tourists who visit the country jet in at Rwanda’s main air gateway
which is Kigali International Airport, located at Kanombe, a suburb of
Kigali city.People, who have the will to do a lot of traveling
in as many countries as possible, should strive to spend at least a week
in Rwanda.While here, one can opt to use many different modes
of transport depending on the destination and how fast one intends to
travel. As you move around the city, you discover that Kigali is
made up of three districts: Gasabo, Kicukiro and Nyarugenge with a
population of approximately 1million.The main form of public
transport within Rwanda is the Toyota Taxis or small omnibuses locally
known as Twegerane, which is a Kinyarwanda word meaning ‘let’s sit
together.`Express taxi companies are also operating within the
city centre and up country. These run to a set timetable (usually
hourly) between major towns, generally Kigali and a major regional
centre.The taxis which are ran by express companies such as
Sotra Tours, Atraco, Stella, Volcanoes Express, Virunga, Trans2000,
Omega Car and Muhabura Travel, issue tickets in advance with a set price
and time of departure short of which you risk a loss of the amount
paid.Speaking to Oliver Nizeyimana, the Managing Director of
Volocano Express, which is one of the many transport companies in
Kigali, it is hard to monitor the transport vehicles operating within
the city.“It is convenient for me to operate up country because
we have only two parks one in Kigali and another in Butare where we
operate,” he said.Volocano Express has 14 mini white coaches that operate on only one route which is between Kigali and Butare.But
he says things are changing with the city council planning to prohibit
taxis from operating within the city centre come 2008.“Next
year, I hope to start a Volocano town service, I know this time in six
months; the city will have better transport services because transport
companies which understand better transport services will have come on
board,” Nizeyimana said.For other express taxi companies, more
destinations are being added with time, and most routes sell out their
tickets considerably in advance of the departure time. Passengers
wishing to alight before the end of the taxi’s destination can do so,
but have to pay the full ticket price anyway. The price of tickets on
Express taxis is similar to the price of a stopping taxi over the same
distance.Those who have moved extensively around the country
have had memorable experiences because there are numerous places to
visit, all with exciting background stories. There is a road that continues from Kayonza running to the far northeast of the country to Kagitumba via Nyangatare. If one takes this route, they will see the beautiful and magnificently shaped Lake Muhazi along the main road.Some
years back, the biggest part of this road would twist through Akagera
National park but today it is mostly a settlement area for returnees
especially from Uganda and Tanzania.Most tourists who come to
Rwanda never miss the opportunity to travel to Akagera National Park,
which is in the far off bushes of Kayonza district. It is set in the Eastern Province where tranquility can only be provided by the wildness that stretches to Tanzania. Akagera National Park boasts of a game lodge set off in the southern part only two hours drive away from the capital Kigali. It has grown to prominence ever since its re-opening and now it attracts masses of tourists like never before.One
can be assured of the travel needs at this lodge – from climbing the
endless hills of the picturesque landscape to passing through to other
cities efficiently.While in Rwanda, one cannot miss out on
visiting the mountain Gorillas; these rare species are now a trade mark
to Rwanda’s tourism industry that even the locals are excited at their
site.The amazing creatures which are facing extinct in other
parts of the world, found a peaceful home in Virunga Mountains where the
Rwandan government have showered them with a human love than ever
before. They even have special naming ceremonies for their new
born as in accordance to Rwandan culture, so they are considered part of
the many Rwandan families.Whether visiting Rwanda for a week or
a few months, the many modes of transportation available will certainly
allow you to experience the best of the culture and all that the
country has to offer. NewTimes

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Hidden high among the forested volcanoes of central Africa, the
mountain gorilla was unknown to science until 1902, when two were first
encountered by a German explorer -- and promptly killed.

It set
the tone for the relationship. For much of the time since, due to
deforestation and poaching, it has seemed the mountain gorilla was
swiftly destined to be lost to the world again. Not long after the
species’ greatest champion, the American zoologist Dian Fossey, was
killed in Rwanda in 1985, there were fewer than 300 of the giant
primates left in the wild.

These days, however, while the species
remains endangered, their numbers have grown to nearly 800. This is due
to the efforts of conservationists such as those working in Volcanoes National Park, in northwest Rwanda, where Fossey established a research
center which continues to run in her name today.

Efforts to
change attitudes towards the mighty animals have seen them become an
important source of income for the local economy through the tourists
they bring, and turned poachers into vocal advocates for conservation.

The
world’s largest mountain gorilla population, thought to number less
than 500 animals, is found in a mountainous region known as the
Virungas, incorporating Volcanoes, Uganda’s Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. A
second, smaller population can be found in the Bwindi Impenetrable
National Park, in another region of Uganda.

The Karisoke Research
Center, operated by the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International and
located in Volcanoes National Park, is the world’s most important
facility for studying the mountain gorilla.Veronica Vecellio,
its gorilla programme coordinator, said she developed the desire to work
in her field after seeing “Gorillas in the Mist,” the 1988 film which
popularized Fossey’s story.

“Studying Dian Fossey, it’s really clear how one person can really make the difference,” said Vecellio. “It’s what inspired me.”

Staff
at Karisoke, which have observed the animals for more than 40 years,
study the behavior of 10 groups of gorillas -- including those initially
named and studied by Fossey, and their offspring.

Vecellio said
the center focused on new research topics every year -- it had been able
to learn, for example, that the life expectancy of a mountain gorilla
was 35 years, as the animals had been under observation for their entire
lifespan.

Fossey had believed in preserving the gorillas’
isolation by keeping tourists away. But today the tourism generated by
the gorillas is essential to the local economy, and the organization
that carries Fossey’s name is in favor of the visitors.

“It’s
thanks (to) gorilla tourism that the gorillas are so well protected here
in Rwanda,” said Vecellio. “I’m sure that if she was still there now,
she would just appreciate the fact that thanks to the tourists, the
gorilla (gets) to be alive. Before it was her keeping the gorillas
alive, and now it’s the tourism.”

Fossey was found murdered in
her cabin in the Virunga Mountains in 1985, and is buried in the park.
Her killer has never been found.

Mountain gorillas are not
frequently hunted for their meat, but can be maimed or killed by
poachers leaving traps or snares for other animals. They have also been
killed for their body parts to be sold to collectors.Francois
Ndungutse grew up in the area and used to hunt in the park. The former
poacher says the last animal he killed was about eight years ago --
these days he urges people to protect the park’s animals as part of
their livelihood.

“We used to live near this volcanic park,
depending on it,” he said. “At that time, we were very poor ... we were
relying on the park to get the meat.”

He said he and fellow poachers were persuaded to change their ways due to education programs from government agencies.

“In
order to stop all this ... poaching, deforestation or any other illegal
activities, it was a combined effort of the former Rwanda National
Parks and Tourism Office and the current Rwanda Development Board
(RDB),” he said.

“The RDB met us and gave us a plan of action and showed us how we can live without poaching in the parks.”

Vecellio
said one of the amazing things about studying mountain gorillas was how
close the primates let observers come to them, compared to other
species she had studied.

“I started with western lowland
gorillas, and the top distance was 50 meters to have them doing their
activities,” she said. “But here you can approach a gorilla very close,
and they ignore your presence ... you can be there and just be a natural
part of the forest and collect your data.”

The ongoing conflict in eastern Congo has not hindered tourism sector as
mountain gorillas remain secure in Virunga National Park, their
habitat.

The assurance was made by Rica Rwigamba, the head of
tourism and conservation in Rwanda Development Board (RDB), reacting to
reports that the conflict that has pitted the DRC armed forces against
mutineers commonly known as M23 could harm the world’s rare species.

“Gorillas on the Rwandan side are regularly monitored on a daily basis and are
all fine. We have put joint patrols on hold and are following up the
situation with our counterparts in DRC,” she said.The Virunga
habitat is a trans-boundary park that cuts across Rwanda, DRC and
Uganda, and it’s the only home for the world’s remaining mountain
gorilla population.

“The tourism sector in Rwanda is doing well; it’s business as usual,”

Dr
Jean Felix Kinani, a wildlife veterinary officer in the Virunga
observed that tourism had been stopped in neighbouring Congo since M23
militias have moved their bases in the area.

“Tourism has been
stopped in Congo; there are no tourists going there…however, on our part
of the park, we are safe and gorillas are secure,” Kinani said

But
he added: “There are groups of Congolese rangers who visited the areas
and they informed us that gorillas are not harmed despite the rebels
being in the forests.”

He however added that the Congolese army
sometimes uses military helicopters while fighting which he said was
scaring the gorillas, sending them in disarray.

Recently, Cai
Tjeenk Willink, who is in charge of tourism and development at Virunga
on the Congolese part said that the conflict had hampered their
operations.

“We cannot do our job in the area until the war has stopped,” he disclosed to international media.

Last
year, Rwanda played host to over 908,000 tourists from all over the
world and the industry earned $252 million according to statists from
Rwanda Development Board.

Gorillas only last year, generated $9.6 million.

Fresh
clashes between the DRC’s military and a group of mutineers calling
themselves March 23 Movement (M23), erupted in mid May as tens of
thousands of residents fled to Rwanda and Uganda.

The mutineers
accuse the Kinshasa leadership of failing to adhere to a 2009 peace
agreement and decided to breakaway after three years.

Saturday, September 8, 2012

US Dollars, UK Pounds and Euros are accepted by UWA for gorillas/ chimp trackingpermits and park entry fees. Many larger hotels will also accept US Dollars and Euros – though you should check in advance.

Note: All US dollars notes must be printed post-2003, and should not be damaged in any way. Higher exchange rates are given on larger value notes ($50 and $100). Banks and Forex bureaus will exchange cash, alternatively us can use ATM machines – common in the major towns. They should accept Visa Debit and Credit Cards.

Can I use Credit or Debit Cards?

Visa is more widely accepted in city hotels and stores, followed by Mastercard. Other Credit cards are unlikely to work.

Alert your bank before using you card abroad to avoid it being blocked.

Can I bargain When Shopping

Prices are fixed in shops, but food and craft markets will be more flexible. You stand a better chance of getting a reduced price if you purchase several items from the same seller.

Prices are generally very low – so do consider if what you are asking for is fair.

Agree on charges for minibuses (matatus) or motorbike taxis (boda-bodas) with your driver before hiring.

Uganda Travel Tip -Use a Visa Card for ATM machine-
Americans can use Bank of America Debit Cards at Barclay and pay no fees, you
can withdraw at most banks about 190 usd in shillings 500,000 shillings- at
Barclays Bank take out 400,000 reinsert card and another 400,000 - 350 360 usd
depending on exchange rate given by bank.

Do not use your card at a bar where ATM machines are showing up- you will be
a target of one kind or another.